Russia's Ancestral Architecture

An interior view of a historic house in the village of Cherevkovo, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in the village of Dertniki, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of an abandoned house in the village of Osurovo, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house moved from the village of Bor, Nyuksenitsa District to Vologda Open Air Museum of Architecture and Ethnography in the village of Semenkovo outside Vologda.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in the village of Cherevkovo, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

A view of a house in the village of Gridinskaya, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in the village of Gridinskaya, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

An interior view of a historic house in the village of Cherevkovo, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in the village of Dertniki, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of an abandoned house in the village of Osurovo, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house moved from the village of Bor, Nyuksenitsa District to Vologda Open Air Museum of Architecture and Ethnography in the village of Semenkovo outside Vologda.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in the village of Cherevkovo, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

A view of a house in the village of Gridinskaya, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

The facade of a house in the village of Gridinskaya, Arkhangelsk region.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

In Russia, you’ll often encounter homes that look properly ancient. And while they’re every bit as uncomfortable as you’d think, many of these buildings aren’t actually old. It’s just the style, and it’s an important Russian cultural symbol.